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The 49ers’ new additions at wide receiver won’t just help the offense.

Cornerback Carlos Rogers says they’ll also assist the secondary, which will face the top four wide receivers, in yardage, from last year (Detroit’s Calvin Johnson, New England’s Wes Welker, the Giants’ Victor Cruz, Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald) and six of the top 10 in that category.

The signings of Randy Moss and Mario Manningham have helped provide a preview of coming attractions while cranking up the competition level in practice.

“We’re talking junk every time we get a chance with those guys 1-on-1,” Rogers said. “We want to go against the 1s all the time. Coach wants to mix it up, 1s and 2s; 1s and 3s. We want that challenge each and every practice. The competition is big.”

Today, Rogers shadowed Moss brilliantly on a deep pass from Alex Smith that fell incomplete. Earlier in training camp, though, Moss schooled Rogers with a savvy nudge that allowed the 13-year veteran to get separation. It’s the type of practice lesson the 49ers cornerbacks didn’t necessarily get last year when just one wide receiver, Michael Crabtree, had more than 20 catches.

“I’m in great position,” Rogers said of his battle against Moss. “Just a little bump off – and he can catch the fade ball. Just a veteran move that I need to know, I need to get into that guy more. Young guys, they’ll probably just jeep running and then look for the ball. I see (wide receivers) coach Johnny (Morton) talking to them all the time, about looking back quick, especially if there’s a DB on top. Randy always knows that so I’ve got to look back quick and just play his pocket.”

While the trash-talking has escalated, Rogers says the biggest mouth is a holdover, Crabtree.

In fact, during the first practice of training camp Friday, just before Crabtree suffered a leg injury, Rogers and Crabtree were jawing.

“We were talking junk to each other: ‘I can’t wait until tomorrow to get you 1-on-1’ and ‘I want you to come up and press – do this and do that,’” Rogers said. “One play later, he ended up doing something to himself. I was like ‘Aw, man, I can’t talk to him no more.’ Most of those guys, they’ll talk in spurts, but Crabtree he wants to keep talking, just keep competing. That’s what I like about him. I can’t wait for him to get back out there.”